Victorious in last year's G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. (1400m), Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) was having his first start since finishing seventh to Dolce More (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in December.
Settled just ahead of midfield as lukewarm favourite Yurisha (Jpn) (Greater London {Jpn}) tore away to lead by nearly double digits over the rain-affected turf, Obamburumai was a bit short of room and with plenty to do with less than 400 metres to race, but he found his best stride late and got up on the line to defeat Session (Jpn) (Silver State) in this prep for next month's G1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo.
The Maeda family's North Hills Management acquired the winner's third dam, a full-sister to Unbridled's Song, for $275,000 at the 2001 Keeneland September Sale and she produced Obamburumai's Group 3-placed second dam two years prior to dropping D'Accord (Jpn), a future Group 3 winner from the first crop of the late Deep Impact (Jpn).
Le Sucre has since gone on to be an important part of the North Hills broodmare band, as she has accounted for the dual group-winning and Group 1-placed Blanc Bonheur (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); Entscheiden (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a listed winner at home and twice third in the G1 Prix de la Foret; and the fleet two-time Group 3 winner Bien Fait (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).
Pink Gerbera is also represented by a 2-year-old Maurice (Jpn) filly, a yearling filly by Rulership and was most recently covered by Saturnalia (Jpn).
Saturday, Hanshin, Japan: ARLINGTON CUP-G3, ¥76,930,000, Hanshin, 4-15, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:33.90, sf.
1–OBAMBURUMAI (JPN), 123, c, 3, by Discreet Cat 1st Dam: Pink Gerbera (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Le Sucre (Jpn), by Sakura Bakushin-Oh (Jpn) 3rd Dam: Asian Meteor, by Unbridled
O-Koji Oka; B-Sunday Hills; T-Keiji Yoshimura; J-Yutaka Take; ¥40,651,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, ¥86,288,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Session (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Silver State (Jpn)–Miss Dubawi (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O-Masamichi Hayashi; B-Northern Farm; ¥16,186,000.
3–Shomon (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Mind Your Biscuits–Epoxi (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn). (¥17,000,000 wnlg '20 JRHAJUL). O-Eiko Hayashi; B-Northern Farm; ¥10,093,000.
Margins: HD, NK, 3/4. Odds : 6.00, 6.00, 4.10. Click for the JRA chart.
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Nakayama and Hanshin Racecourses, the latter of which plays host to the season's first Japanese Classic, the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) for the 3-year-old fillies:
Saturday, April 8, 2023 4th-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m WORLDS COLLIDE (c, 3, War Front–Elizabeth Browning {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of a winner of the G2 Kilboy Estate S. whose full-brother Johannes Vermeer (Ire) took the G1 Criterium International S. in France. Elizabeth Browning, who topped the 2017 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale on a bid of 700,000gns from Alex Elliott, agent, is also a sister to the listed-winning Sapa Inca (Ire), G1 National S. runner-up Wembley (Ire) and Group 2-placed Petite Mustique (Ire). Worlds Collide was the most expensive of seven purchases by Paca Paca Farm at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, hammering for $400,000. The second-priciest of those acquisitions, the $250,000 Freewheeling (War Front) offered less than 25 hips later, broke his maiden at second asking in Japan last weekend. B-Lynch Bages Ltd & MacQuarie Bloodstock (KY)
Sunday, April 9, 2023 2nd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($79k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m DIXIE GUNNER (c, 3, Gun Runner–Dixie Crisp, by Dixieland Band) made a pair of starts over 1400 meters last term, finishing second and third, respectively, and cuts back slightly for this seasonal comebacker. Purchased for $150,000 at KEENOV in 2020, the bay is a half-brother to SW & GSP Southern Freedom (Pure Prize), SW Reconstruction (Broken Vow) and GSP Epic Dreamer (Orb). Yuga Kawada has the call for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, who will team with Oka Sho favorite Liberty Island (Jpn) later in the program. B-J D Stuart, P C Bance, AR Enterprises & G Todaro (KY)
Though she makes her first start since cementing champion 2-year-old filly honours in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over course and distance back in December, Sunday Racing's Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) will jump a warm favourite in the first Classic on the Japanese racing calendar, Sunday's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas).
The daughter of two-time Australian champion and dual Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (Aus) (All American {Aus}) validated a quote of $2.10 (11-10) to open her account at first asking at Niigata July 30, then returned from a three-month freshening to finish second in the G2 Artemis S. (1600m) at Tokyo at the end of October, where she was held up at a critical stage and couldn't quite reel in the re-opposing Ravel (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). There were no such hindrances in the Juvenile Fillies, as she was produced wide by Yuga Kawada and raced away to defeat Shinryokuka (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}) by 2 1/2 convincing lengths, with Doe Eyes (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) a late-on-the-scene third after herself striking mild interference.
“I think her strong points are her acceleration and her ability to shift gears into top speed,” said trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. “She is still immature in some ways, so I am hoping she will mature more mentally. I would like to see her have a fast track on Sunday. I am really grateful to have a horse like this to run in the Oka Sho this year. I think she'll give us some good solid results.”
Star 3yo filly LIBERTY ISLAND (Duramente x Yankee Rose ) final fast ahead G1 1600m Oka Sho (1000 Guineas) on Sunday
She is hummmming
11.2 last 1F on the circle chip as she liked. She ran the fastest last 3F ever recorded on the JRA on debut (31.4)pic.twitter.com/o3QWkeaUYP
While Liberty Island would be providing her late sire with a second straight Guineas winner following on from Stars on Earth (Jpn) last year, Light Quantum (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) can become her legendary stallion's sixth Oka Sho heroine with his final runner in the race. The daughter of US Grade I winner Illuminant (Quality Road)–a $1.1-million purchase by Shadai at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017–is perfect in her two trips to the post to date, having built on a debut score at Toyko in November to add a fast-finishing success in the G2 Shinzan Kinen at Chukyo Jan. 8. She has the services of Yutaka Take again this weekend.
“She's been getting work over a long span of time and I feel that all has gone well,” said trainer Koshiro Take. “We'll have to be very careful in the gate and then be careful of the other horses. She has speed, so I think if she breaks well, she'll be able to get a pretty good forward position. I hope she'll get a fast track.”
Kona Coast (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) also carries the Sunday Racing colours and rates an outside chance. Victorious on Kokura debut over a bit further in August, she was runner-up in listed company at Chukyo in February and jumped out of the ground late to just fail behind front-running Mozu Meimei (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Tulip Sho over track and trip Mar. 4 while outfinishing Perifania (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}).
Having celebrated his 54th birthday less than three weeks ago, Yutaka Take became the oldest jockey in the history of the Japanese turf to win at Group 1 level after putting a well-rationed ride aboard second favourite Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) at Hanshin Racecourse. Reigning champion 3-year-old filly Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) found no luck in running for a second straight race and fell just short, while Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) checked in a close third.
The expected pacesetter from gate nine, the flashy chestnut hit the ground running and led from the outposted North the World (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as two-time Classic winner Stars on Earth was involved in a bit of a chain reaction at the break that saw her exchange bumps with Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), relegating her to a position towards the rear. Allowed to bowl along, as is his wont, Jack d'Or covered the opening 800 metres in :47.5 seconds, but really picked up the pace from there, clocking an internal half-mile in :46 flat from the 1200m to the 400m while still racing well within himself.
Firmly on top as they hit the Hanshin straight, Jack d'Or continued to find even as Danon the Kid–who had sat a perfect trip one out and one back–came to challenge at the furlong grounds. But under vigorous urging from Take, Jack d'Or kept on doggedly to prevail by the minimum margin. Stars on Earth, on hold on the turn, raced in traffic in the final 300 metres, but charged through between a tiring Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and third choice Weltreisende (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) and rattled home to just fail. She covered her final three furlongs in a race-fastest :34.4 while making her first start since a troubled second in the G1 Shuka Sho when attempting a sweep of the Filly Triple Crown last October. Danon the Kid, who came in on and bothered Killer Ability at the start, held for third.
“I was hoping to take the front if we could get a good start,” said Take, commonly referred to as 'Legend'. “He was a bit keen to go in the first two corners, but raced in good rhythm thereafter. I think it was tough for him because of the headwind in the straight, but I had a feeling that we were able to hold off the chasing horses when we crossed the wire.”
It was an 80th career Group 1 for Take, and, reflecting on that achievement, he said: “I owe it to all the many great horses I was able to ride, and I will do my best to extend this record even further.”
A well-backed fifth in this race last year, Jack d'Or–whose 14 career starts have all come over 10 furlongs–outgamed future G1 Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen last August before finishing a close fourth to Horse of the Year and recent G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic hero Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October. With Take at the controls for the first time, Jack d'Or was a lacklustre seventh in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup when last seen Dec. 11.
Pedigree Notes:
Jack d'Or, purchased for just over $320,000 at the 2019 Hokkaido Selected Yearling Sale, is the fifth top-level winner worldwide for his sire and his third in Japan (Geraldina {Jpn}, a sneaky-good sixth Sunday and top sprinter Pixie Knight {Jpn}). Maurice is also the sire of Hitotsu (Aus) and Mazu (Aus) from his shuttle missions to Arrowfield Stud in Australia. Jack d'Or is the 31st Group 1/Grade I winner out of a daughter of Unbridled's Song, who has also been responsible for Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) and additional G1SWs Danon Platina (Jpn), Suave Richard (Jpn) and Toho Jackal (Jpn) in Japan.
Bred and raced by Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm, Ravarino is a daughter of Sous Entendu, trained for Gainsborough by Criquette Head to a third-place effort in the 1990 G3 Prix de la Grotte who would go on to produce the listed-winning and G2 Dante S. third Slip Stream (Irish River {Fr}) as well as dual US graded winner Porte Bonheur (Hennessy). Jack d'Or's third dam was the champion 2-year-old filly of 1978 in America and the deeper family includes globetrotting multi-jurisdiction Group 1/Grade I winner State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}); multiple Group 1/Grade I winner Storming Home (GB) (Machiavellian); G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}); and five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star', G1 Dubai World Cup winner and Darley America stallion Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper).
Ravarino is represented by the once-raced 3-year-old colt Crown Romagna (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), the 2-year-old filly Marino El Dorado (Jpn) (Rey de Oro {Jpn}) and a yearling full-sister to Jack d'Or. The mare, whose last seven foals have been chestnut in colour, is due once again to Maurice for her 2023 produce.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan OSAKA HAI-G1, ¥384,860,000, Hanshin, 4-2, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 1:57.40, fm.
1–JACK D'OR (JPN), 128, h, 5, by Maurice (Jpn) 1st Dam: Ravarino, by Unbridled's Song 2nd Dam: Sous Entendu, by Shadeed 3rd Dam: It's in the Air, by Mr. Prospector 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥34,560,000 Ylg '19 HOKSEL). O-Toshiyuki Maehara; B-Crown Hidaka Farm; T-Kenichi Fujioka; J-Yutaka Take; ¥203,402,000. Lifetime Record: 14-8-2-0, ¥675,444,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+ (1 SW). Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Stars on Earth (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Duramente (Jpn)–Southern Stars (GB), by Smart Strike. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; ¥80,972,000.
3–Danon the Kid (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Just a Way (Jpn)–Epic Love (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (¥100,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Danox Inc; B-Northern Farm; ¥ 50,486,000.
Margins: NO, NK, 2. Odds: 2.60, 2.40, 31.80.
Also Ran: Matenro Leo (Jpn), Maria Elena (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn), Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), North Bridge (Jpn), Weltreisende (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Lagulf (Jpn), Moze Bello (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Wonderful Town (Jpn), North the World (Jpn), Hindu Times (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.
) final fast ahead G1 1600m Oka Sho (1000 Guineas) on Sunday